Police planned to release more details at a 3 p.m. news conference Saturday.

Poplawski was arrested after a several-hour standoff.

One witness reported hearing hundreds of shots.

The shootings occurred just two weeks after four police officers were fatally shot March 21 in Oakland, Calif., in the deadliest day for U.S. law enforcement since Sept. 11, 2001.

Poplawski's friends at the scene described him as a young man who thought the Obama administration would ban guns.

One friend, Edward Perkovic, said Poplawski feared "the Obama gun ban that's on the way" and "didn't like our rights being infringed upon."

Another longtime friend, Aaron Vire, said he feared that President Obama was going to take away his rights, though he said he "wasn't violently against Obama."

Perkovic, a 22-year-old who said he was Poplawski's best friend, said he got a call at work from him in which he said, "Eddie, I am going to die today. ... Tell your family I love them and I love you."

Perkovic said: "I heard gunshots and he hung up. ... He sounded like he was in pain, like he got shot."

Vire, 23, said Poplawski once had an Internet talk show but that it wasn't successful.

Vire said his friend had an AK-47 rifle and several powerful handguns, including a .357 Magnum.

Another friend, Joe DiMarco, said Poplawski had been laid off from his job at a glass factory earlier this year.

DiMarco said he didn't know the name of the company, but knew Poplawski had been upset about losing his job.

The officers were called to the home in the Stanton Heights neighborhood at about 7 a.m.

Tom Moffitt, 51, a city firefighter who lives two blocks away, said he heard about the shooting on his scanner and came to the scene, where he heard "hundreds, just hundreds of shots. And not just once - several times."

Rob Gift, 45, who lives a block away, said he heard rapid gunfire as he was letting his dog out.

He said the neighborhood of well-kept single-family houses and manicured lawns is home to many police officers, firefighters, paramedics and other city workers.

"It's just a very quiet neighborhood," Gift said.

fucking Obama!!

is it too late to take my vote back??

financeguy

04-05-2009 05:00 PM

Why does a 23 year old, or indeed anyone, feel the need to an AK-47 rifle and several powerful handguns, including a .357 Magnum?

It's just crazy.

BVS

04-05-2009 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by financeguy
(Post 6065420)

Why does a 23 year old, or indeed anyone, feel the need to an AK-47 rifle and several powerful handguns, including a .357 Magnum?

It's just crazy.

Have you not learned anything from FYM? An AK-47 is just a tool. Just like a shovel.

Vincent Vega

04-05-2009 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by financeguy
(Post 6065420)

Why does a 23 year old, or indeed anyone, feel the need to an AK-47 rifle and several powerful handguns, including a .357 Magnum?

It's just crazy.

The M16's jamming too much.

bigjohn2441

04-05-2009 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by financeguy
(Post 6065420)

Why does a 23 year old, or indeed anyone, feel the need to an AK-47 rifle and several powerful handguns, including a .357 Magnum?

the "AK-47" he had wasnt a true Ak-47, probably a cheap copy in semi-auto. can buy at your local dunham's. not that different from an ordinary hunting rifle, other than asthetics. can be used for sport or home-defense. the .357 is probably one of the best self-defense rounds around. what can i say, in PA we like our guns.

that answer your question?

the media's terms they love to use like "assault rifle" or "high-powered rifle" or "hand cannon" are BS in most of these shootings, only used to sensationalize the story and get ratings.

the .22 revolver was my grandfathers, passed down to me. that and the .22 rifle i use for plinking around, you know shooting cans and paper targets and stuff. good times.

the 20 gauge shotgun i bought while in college cause all my roommates used to go up to on of their aunt's 80 acres every couple of weekends and shoot skeet. also good times.

the .38 i bought a year or so ago to carry for personal protection,since it is a crazy world we live in, and the way the economy is going it may get worse. the h&k was issued to me by the agency i work for.

so only 2 of them are for "killing", or as id put it, defense.

the others are for fun/sport. and it is fun, dont knock it till you try it. and no i dont hunt or kill animals with them, i only shoot non-living cans and paper. never felt the urge to shoot anything living. :lol:

financeguy

04-05-2009 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigjohn2441
(Post 6065740)

the h&k was issued to me by the agency i work for.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigjohn2441
(Post 6065740)

maybe because anyone that has the guts to speak/act out against a governments inefficiency/oppression/tyranny/no longer serving the interests of the people, are now labeled as the "hateful far left" or "terrorists".

I'm seeing a disconnect here.

bigjohn2441

04-05-2009 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by financeguy
(Post 6065774)

I'm seeing a disconnect here.

thats right, im actually a secret government agent trying to seek out "terrorists" on the internet. :lol:

what, i cant work in law enforcement and disagree with the way the government is running things at the same time? :wink:

not like i was being a smart-ass with that comment or anything.

damn how many months ago was that post? i think someone has way too much time on their hands.

HyperU2

04-05-2009 07:45 PM

I own guns to piss off Liberals.

bigjohn2441

04-05-2009 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HyperU2
(Post 6065799)

I own guns to piss off Liberals.

YES! a fellow Pennsylvanian to back me up!:hi5:

deep

04-05-2009 07:55 PM

there is a 3rd young Pennsylvanian that would back you up. if he could get online.

23 year-old Richard Poplawski probably believed the Police would take away his right to bear arms.

Bigjohn, would you surrender your guns to law enforcement?

financeguy

04-05-2009 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigjohn2441
(Post 6065781)

thats right, im actually a secret government agent trying to seek out "terrorists" on the internet. :lol:

what, i cant work in law enforcement and disagree with the way the government is running things at the same time? :wink:

not like i was being a smart-ass with that comment or anything.

damn how many months ago was that post? i think someone has way too much time on their hands.